Trail Blazers' Joel Freeland could miss rest of regular season with knee injury

MEMPHIS — Joel Freeland is making progress in his recovery from a sprained right MCL. But the progress is slow going.

In fact, the Trail Blazers’ backup big man on Tuesday said he could miss another five weeks — or the rest of the regular season.

“I look at it like I’ve got a month to get ready for the playoffs,” Freeland said.

Freeland injured his knee on Feb. 11, during the Blazers' 98-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the time, his timeline for a return was four to eight weeks. But his recovery has been slow from Day 1, and he grew so frustrated he sought a second opinion from an independent doctor on March 5. The diagnosis on the injury was the same, but the timeline for a possible return was slightly extended.

It’s unclear exactly when Freeland will resume basketball-related activities — that all depends on the health of his knee — but he said Tuesday he’s been told it could take up to five more weeks. The Blazers’ season finale is April 16 — exactly five weeks from today.

“It’s frustrating,” said Freeland. “I’ve never had an injury in my life.”

Freeland has been wearing a brace on his knee to help stabilize it, and he’s been able to ride on the exercise bike and to do some light shooting. But contact and other high-intensity workouts are forbidden.

Freeland can extend and bend his knee forward and backward, although it does cause minor irritation in the back of his knee. But he cannot expose his knee to lateral movement.

The good news? Freeland has not gained any weight during his month away from basketball. In fact, by cutting out carbs and late-night eating, he said he's actually lost a couple pounds.

There's no medical test that can clear Freeland to return. It's all about how his knee feels, and Freeland said he will return when his knee is completely stable and ready for the rigors of a game.